Illustrative image (Source: Alamy)Tokyo (VNA) – The National Cancer Centre Japan (NCCJ) has recentlylaunched a cooperative project with five Southeast Asian countries to developcancer genomic medicines and other new drugs to provide better treatment forpatients.
The Atlas project,which involves in Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines, aimsto develop targeted therapies for rare types of cancer, as well as provideopportunities for people outside of Japan to receive advanced treatment.
Cancer genomics usestechnologies such as sequencing to identify DNA alterations and help doctorscreate customized treatment for an individual's cancer.
According to thecentre, parts of Southeast Asia lack the medical systems required to addressthe rising number of cancer patients that has accompanied population growth andeconomic development.
By expanding clinicaltrials to patients of other countries and sharing data, the project aims toaccelerate the development of prospective drugs. Japan will also share itsexpertise through training and study programmes.
"We want toestablish a development framework for drugs and promote cancer genomicmedicines in Asia, catching up with Europe and the United States," saidKenichi Nakamura, chief of the Research Management Division at the center'shospital./.
VNA
